Did you know the site on which our brewery and Taproom sit has quite an interesting history? Originally a new home for ICI Fibre’s headquarters and research laboratory in the 1950s. (Fun fact, Crimplene, a thick, wrinkle-resistant, and shape-retaining fabric, was developed by ICI in the 1950s and named after the Crimple Valley.)
Following ICI’s move away from the town, Hornbeam Park began to be redeveloped in the 1980s, the building Rooster’s has called home since 2019 having been used by various business over the years.
We, unfortunately, can’t find a full rundown of what, but we do know it was once a car garage and showroom. In fact, you can still spot painted parking bay floor markings in the Taproom.
The industrial character of the building lends itself perfectly to housing a brewery and provided us with the perfect spot for our vision of a classic American-inspired on-site taproom.
The high ceilings and hard surfaces that come with such a building have made the acoustics in the Taproom quite hard to overcome when the space is at its busiest.
It’s something we’ve been aware of and increasingly picked up on similar feedback, so earlier this year, we enlisted the help of Soundproofing Store to install ProSound acoustic ceiling rafts. Even hampered slightly by the pre-positioning of a hardwired fire alarm and emergency lighting system, we’re delighted with how significantly the work carried out has softened the acoustics in the room, which in turn has helped to create a much better environment to enjoy a beer or two with fewer audible distractions at play.
The team at Soundproofing Store have created a fantastic video in which Phil, their Technical Sales Manager breaks down the details of the installation.
Check out the YouTube video below, which also includes a cameo from our Taproom and Events Manager, Howie!